Leadership Pain With Sam ChandShembull

Guaranteed Pain 

It’s inevitable, inescapable. By its very nature, leadership produces change, and change—even wonderful growth and progress—always involves at least a measure of confusion, loss, and resistance. To put it the other way, leadership that doesn’t produce pain is either in a short season of unusual blessing or isn’t really making a difference. So,

Growth = Change

Change = Loss

Loss = Pain

Thus,

Growth = Pain

When leaders in any field take the risk of moving individuals and organizations from one stage to another—from stagnation to effectiveness of from success to significance—they inevitably encounter confusion, passivity, and outright resistance from those they’re trying to lead. It’s entirely predictable. 

In fact, leadership—all leadership—is a magnet for pain, which comes in many forms. We catch flak for bad decisions because people blame us, and we get criticism even for good decisions because we’ve changed the beloved status quo. But pain isn’t the enemy. The inability or unwillingness to face pain is a far greater danger. 

Paradoxically, Christians often have more difficulty handling personal pain than unbelievers. They look at the promises of God and conclude that God should fill their lives with joy, love, support, and success. That’s reading the Bible selectively. The Scriptures state—clearly and often—that enduring pain is one of the ways, perhaps the main way, God works grace deeply into our lives. 

We need a fresh perspective. We need to make friends with our pain. Making friends with your pain is part of leadership. Our pain tells us when we’re moving in the right direction. New pains will always be a part of your life as you continue climbing the ladder to your destiny. 

Do you want to be a better leader? Raise the threshold of your pain.